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#326 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,813
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Larry,
What clutch release bearing did you use in the suburban and the truck? After all these years I'm finally putting the nv4500 into Big Ugly, and it seems like I have very little clearance between the backside of the clutch fork arm and the opening in the side of the bellhousing. I'm wondering if you used a "taller" or longer bearing than I. I'm using National bearing number 614018. Thanks.
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Jason M. @argonaut62 1972 K5 Blazer CST, Turquoise 1966 K20 Short Fleet Pickup, Big Ugly 1964 C10 Short Fleet, Gertrude 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 1996 Ford Bronco XLT 1980 Jeep Wagoneer 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Honda RC51 1981 Honda CB750C No dis-assemble Johnny Five! No dis-assemble! |
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#327 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#328 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,522
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
What brand of fender flares do you have there
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#329 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Warn 4XFlares. Unfortunately, they are extinct now. They stopped making them a year or so ago. Same with Xenon, they stopped too and were hoping to sell the dies to someone like LMC. Bushwacker is the last game in town for flares for square bodys
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#330 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Mud Lake, Idaho
Posts: 346
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Looking for an 8.1 to put in my 87 suburban, found a 2003 engine but its set up to run propane and comes with a wiring harness and the ecm. The guy wants 800 bucks for it. How big of a problem would it be to convert it back to gasoline?
Love your build by the way!! Thanks, Mike
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=588707 |
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#331 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
Propane engines are good ones to get as they are CLEAN! If you ever rip it down the valves and pistons will look like brand new. If the engine came out of a Schwann’s truck all you need is a gasoline fuel rail and injectors and you’re ready for gasoline action. On the other hand, if this was a gen set or well pump engine it could need an entire intake. I’d find out what the engine came out of before I jumped on it. As far as the harness goes, I am not in favor of reworking original harnesses. They just are not worth the hassle. The best money you can put towards one of these swaps is starting with a new, clean stand alone harness from Howell or one of the many other vendors that make harnesses. This thread should help you along…
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#332 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Mud Lake, Idaho
Posts: 346
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
I decided to buy it, didnt want the 6 hour drive to be a total waste. Here is a link to pics of it.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post8253226
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=588707 |
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#333 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
Obviously, the ECM will need to be reflashed but it would need reflashed regardless. Personally, I would sell the harness, get a new Howell harness and use your ECM as a core for a fresh Howell ECM. There are many choices other than Howell as well. Have fun!
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#334 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Mud Lake, Idaho
Posts: 346
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Larry, what kind of mileage do you get with the suburban both empty and towing your camper? Best and worst mpg?
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=588707 |
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#335 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
My stock Silverado with an 8.1L always did the worse in fuel economy but I recently had the ECM retuned but have not checked fuel economy yet but I can already tell it is up there with the Suburban if not even greater. What kills fuel economy with an 8.1L is an automatic trans, especially an Allison. If you can run a manual and shift them at low RPM’s like a diesel is the key to getting decent economy out of them. All of my 8.1Ls have manuals behind them.
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#336 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Mud Lake, Idaho
Posts: 346
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Thanks for the info. So if you had to choose between automatics, allison or 4l80e?
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=588707 |
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#337 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
If you must have an Automatic, 4L80E would be the best. NV4500 manual is my preference
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#338 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Colo Springs, CO
Posts: 870
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
What's the difference from the 4L80e and the 4L85e (that is suppose to be in my 8.1L Yukon XL)?
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- Jeff 89' K5 Blazer, 2.5" lift, 35" tires ![]() 04' GMC Yukon XL, 3/4 ton, 8.1L |
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#339 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 3,587
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
Larry this is the second time I've read through this entire thread. So cool! The first time was to gather information and see how you work. The second time is because I acquired a Suburban. I hope you continue to enjoy the heck out of it. |
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#340 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: texas
Posts: 253
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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Black 93 CCLB 3500 6.5 diesel, GV OD, TCI Ez-TCU controlled 4L80E, back on road 10/25/16 after sitting 4 years. 96 ECLB 2500, 6.5 diesel, auto, gone. |
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#341 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#342 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: JOH-JAH!
Posts: 2
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
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#343 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quite a bit on Instagram. Every few months I'd say. Tell your friend it is not for sale. ![]()
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#344 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 450
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Blowing the trail dust off this thread...
Larry, did you have driveline problems/vibes when you went to shackle flip? Have to drop t-case etc? I just got the all legos from ORD for my 90 Sub.. I've read it can be right on the money and out when loaded with as little as a fun tank... Im only running 33s on a 9.5 but rest of suspension is pretty much what you did. Thanks in advance! |
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#345 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#346 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
You have my attention...I love your forum content and vehicles, can I follow?
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#347 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
![]() bigassgas8.1 is my IG handle
__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#348 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 450
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Instagram? Are you mad? I can barely work email...haha
That's good to hear on shackle flip. Never built a Sub for keeping but given current status of things, middle of no where sounds about right and this one was as close to free as you can get. Now with the little girl, pandemic adopted dog, wife plus camping junk, Blazers are just too small plus I like the "I'm off roading in my lazy boy" that Sub seat gives me. Your squirt must be must be huge by now. Mines 8 and she knows EVERYTHING including how to read wrench/socket sizes. Finally handy to have around now. I'm joking... ![]() I like the rotor t-case balancer holder upper. Smart...like Homer smart. And sure looks pretty in there. I like clean a underneath. Ive got the JB SYE kit going in but like you no need for CV on this length of DS. Flange yoke, slip joint and go. I am stuffing a 1" zero rate to bring rear up more than front for gear, gas etc. Every lifted 208/241 with slip tailshafts killed seals. Never a bent one, just the angle stress wiped them out. 5-8k miles all I ever got out of them before making a mess on the drive. I'll let you know how it goes and glad to see you still respond. You're a good egg. Thanks! |
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#349 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
![]() Ya, mine is getting big as well. Its absolutely amazing to watch her grow from an infant to now a 2nd grader that is much smatter than I ever was at that age. It’s amazing what they learn these days and how she speaks like a little adult. She loves to hang out with me in the garage and play with tools, look at parts, ask how things work, etc. In fact, when I bolting the transmission back in the Suburban she helped run the DeWalt driver to screw the shifter boot down while I held a wrench below. She also helped bleed the clutch. She is becoming a little shop rat and photo bomber! ![]() Funny about the 8 lug rotor/transfercase holder. A few 241s builds ago, I rummaged through my junk pile to look for something to use a jig besides using a bucket and spotted an 8 lug rotor. As it turns out the nose of a 208 and 241 fits perfectly in the hub hold and stays well balanced too. Total Homer style! ![]() Got the shaft back yesterday. It had to be cut down to make it longer. The reason I suspect the rear output on the 241 was bent is because I had a shaft made for a years ago what was a tad long. It wasn’t long after the 2016 Desert Trip when one of my friends came along and drove the Polar Bear did the vibration get worse. I’m pretty sure while flexing and bouncing that week the driveshaft stabbed the output hard on a compression when the back of the Burb was loaded with camping gear. After that trip it started eating seals and slip yoke bushings as well. I should have ran a gauge on the output before tearing it down but I was too excited to do the SYE regardless ![]() ![]()
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
Last edited by DirtyLarry; 12-02-2020 at 12:56 PM. |
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#350 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 450
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Wow..time flies...I remember when my shrimp would play in back of one of my trucks (AKA corralled) so I could get things done. Now grade 3 doing crazy math!
![]() Here is the Sub as it sits today. Threw on set of 15x8 steelies and some 33s BFGs. Need to adjust speedo ratio but it works. ![]() ![]() It was filthy. Hadn't been washed in over a year but everything worked (almost) and price was unbeatable. Came with a full tank and tags paid til next yr! Same owner since '94. Got a stack of maintaince 2" thick going back to when he bought. He never skipped oil changes, diffs etc. Doesn't leak anything. Has engine oil cooler and PS cooler which was neat to see. Still needs ton of cleaning but but it'll be trail ready in next month or so. If it stays around, it'll get a 6.2 6L80 eventually but this TBI is running smooth for now and passes smog. Last edited by Irish1941; 12-03-2020 at 01:24 AM. |
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